How to Get Entry Level Finance Jobs with No Experience

A four-year finance degree is not the only way to enter the field of analyzing funds and understanding profits.

Sure, higher education might be the traditional method, but you can still score interviews for entry-level finance jobs with no experience.

It just takes a different kind of preparation.

This is a road you must make for yourself. You have to make up for not having a degree by being able to match the skills of someone who did.

Thankfully, there are tools to help you along the way.

1. Capitalize on Your Current Talents

Before you take steps to get to where you want to be, take a look at where you are (and what got you here).

Do a self-assessment of your skills and talents. Think about the experiences you’ve been through and the lessons you can apply to your future finance career.

Maybe you took off after high school to travel the world. Maybe you did your undergrad in psychology and don’t see how this matches your passion for finance.

Good thing more and more companies are looking for candidates with strong cultural knowledge. Plus, no matter what job you do, you will always need soft skills.

Don’t talk yourself down just because you don’t have a degree.

There are plenty of tools life has given you to move forward. The more you understand what these are, the better you can prepare to apply for entry-level finance jobs with no experience.

Plus, focusing on what you already have is a confidence-booster to take on the new skills you need to acquire.

2. Go to Class

Speaking of new skills, why not go to school on your own terms?

There are plenty of in-depth online resources ready to explain the world of finance.

They bring the classroom to you and take much less than four years to complete.

But, online learning does take more discipline and commitment than a traditional classroom. Set monthly goals and establish a routine to stay on track.

Courses range from basic terms and industry lingo to understanding the legalities of finance. You can take one course at a time or search for a package focused on all the levels of the finance world.

Once you’ve got the basics down, make a point to continue learning.

Try your hand at understanding the calculations behind money markets. The internet is filled with financial calculators ready to show you how it’s done.

These systems break down what investments look like in the short-term and long-term.

Some are even updated with current market data instead of fictional problems so you can use real numbers. Click to learn more about how this works.

3. Test Your Skills

However, you decide to learn about finance, be sure to test your skills along the way.

Course assessments and online calculators are a good place to start, but the best students go beyond that.

Sign up for an investment simulator. Or, try your hand in the real-life stock market if you have the funds for it.

This is how your course take-aways develop into more than concepts. Practice turns them into real skills. Remember, it’s one thing to talk about finances in theory and something else entirely to know how to handle them.

Play with the numbers and watch how much more everything makes sense.

You might even make a bit of money along the way.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to fund a new interview outfit or an extra online course with this extra cash. Maybe save it for a rainy day and treat yourself to a vacation when you land the entry-level job you want!

4. Express Your Knowledge

Beyond book learning and sharp suits, try to prepare something else to make you stand out in interviews.

Another great way to build skills and credibility is to start a finance blog.

Blogging makes you apply your learning in a completely different way. Particularly in the world of finance, it makes you focus on industry news and changes.

This goes beyond the known ups and downs of the stock market.

You can use your blog to talk about financial planning apps for personal investments. Or, do case studies on the past failures and successes of big banks. Maybe even write an opinion page on where you think the market is headed.

Added bonus: a successful blog shows you know more than just the finance side of the business. You can use your blog as a platform to show off analytic, research, and even branding skills, too.

5. Get a Mentor

As great as online resources are, strong relationships can matter even more.

Good contacts can make a significant impact as you start your search for entry-level finance jobs with no experience.

A mentor is one who takes you under their wing to show you the tricks of the trade. They help you polish your skill set and identify your weaknesses. They tell you what books to read and finance analysts to keep up with.

More so, he or she is your person to lean on when the pressure builds up.

You’re bound to have doubts along the way and struggles to overcome. Having someone in your corner keeps you on track to succeed no matter what.

6. Search Smart

When you think you’re ready to apply, keep an open mind and be patient.

Not all entry level finance jobs can be a perfect internship or your shot to succeed in a big company. Some will be from small firms in your hometown. You might even run into an opportunity at a startup.

Don’t shut out any ideas.

Focusing on landing “the perfect job” could mean you end up missing the perfect opportunity. Remember, you have to start somewhere.

Commit to exploring as many options as you can. Who knows, you could end up with multiple job offers!